What is Graphic Design?

Graphic Design is a visual communication, an art, a profession, and a process of bonding text, images, signs, symbols, photography, colors and diagrams to communicate an effective language with the observer. It is an architecture where visual sequence is arranged in shape and structure, as a result graphic design eloquently guides more than a text statement. It is a combined force of writer’s words and designer’s design to enhances and integrate an effective communication.

Graphic Design arranges information visually, utilizing typography and illustrations in such a way, that it successfully projects the concept to visual appearance. Graphical elements facilitate expression of thought to visualization, and snatches attention of the watcher pleasing and mesmerizing their eyes.

Today, Graphic design is practiced in various fields of media, distributing its effective message through logos, graphics, signs, brochures, posters, and other type of visual elements. Main industries encompass this creative work of art in media, such as: websites, print, advertisement, publication, digital media, motion pictures, animation, product design, packaging, information signs, etc.

With a purpose of lucidity and efficient message conveying to the viewer, graphic design can be powerful, purposeful or sometimes just a distinctive artistic presentation. It can be just an imaginary drawing or a realistic creative revelation.

The use of graphic design is to make it easy for the viewer, as an enhancement for textual description, and is an effort to assist readers in their understanding of any particular concept more clearly and compelling through visuals and designs.

Progression of graphic design has been closely bound to technical novelty. Designing skill has been practiced in diverse forms adjacent with human evolution, with reference to ancient manuscripts found in China, Egypt, India and Greece. It starts really bounding from 15th century with the development and growth of printing and publication, to 19th century’s industrially revolution in west.

After the arrival of desktop publishing in 1980, and launching of the software like Abode Illustrator, and PageMaker; designer generation was metamorphosed and the designers world rapidly ramped up towards computer imaging from illustration to 3d image generation; which was manually unattainable and thought to be impossible before. Computers at present time are considered to be a crucial instrument used by graphic designers and photographers as well as fine artists.

Apple Macintosh computers are very popular in graphic design, though new developments in hardware and software on other platform, i.e., Microsoft; theses days both system are widely accepted. Common graphic design software applications include Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark, Flash, Fireworks, etc. From simple graphics to advance 3d graphics, these days graphic designing overshadows visual images seen everywhere else.

Regarding graphic utilization on websites, the uses of graphics have become convenient and feasible since about 1990, as the Internet speed increased dramatically and Web browsers being capable of viewing large images. Graphics used by websites are logos, banners, advertisements, navigation buttons, etc. in gif format and in addition modern browsers today supports jpg, and swf formats as well. This makes websites fabricate and interface their web design much more attractive and outstanding, rather then plain text content.

At present, Graphic Design stands as a solo industry, sheltering millions of artist worldwide as professionals. Graphic design is the design of visual displays of information and data, expression and projection, painting and drawing. A visual communication molded with art and skill of arranging information in methodical approach, so that viewers with effective understanding of expressions can use it.

Author: Bharat Bista